Associate Director for Development - Leadership Gifts

Job Details

Location:

Forest Grove Campus, Forest Grove, OR 97116
Position Type:
Exempt
Salary Range: $65,000.00 - $72,000.00

Reports to:

Senior Director of Development

The Associate Director of Leadership Giving will manage an assigned pool of prospective donors throughout the entire fundraising process, encompassing discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This role focuses on mid‑level prospects to build a robust pipeline of major gift prospects, primarily alumni, friends, and families, raising support for the greatest needs, scholarships, and university initiatives. Gift conversations include annual fund, endowed, and capital gift components.

• Design and proactively manage strategies for the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 250+ donors, concentrating on gifts within the Leadership Annual Giving range ($1,000‑$5,000).
• Develop and execute strategic fundraising and engagement efforts by designing, implementing, evaluating, and refining development activities to drive donor retention, reactivation, acquisition, and pipeline growth.
• Develop and submit written proposals and collateral materials as needed to secure philanthropic gifts.
• Work within the University‑wide prospect management system with the Director of Prospect Management & Analytics to identify and prioritize prospects, prepare background information, make contacts or assignments, and follow up to ensure completion of assigned solicitations.
• Assume responsibility for core fundraising metrics, including face‑to‑face visits with prospects, identification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving from the prospect portfolio, and total dollars raised.
• Collaborate with other Development team members to achieve common goals while meeting individual targets for visits and other activities.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships between Deans/Directors; collaborate with department heads and faculty to provide guidance and coordinate development efforts; assist College‑specific councils and volunteers in achieving their philanthropic goals as needed.

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and institutional priorities.

This position serves as a key member of the Development team, requiring high‑level communication with the supervisor and colleagues to ensure the unit works together to accomplish common goals.

• Occasional oversight: provide guidance or task‑specific oversight to student workers, interns, or temporary staff.

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience preferably in higher education.
• Preferred:
  Experience with constituent relations software (e.g., Raisers Edge) or similar CRM.

• Communicates appropriately with students, faculty, staff, and the public.
• Builds on basic learning and transfers it to new situations.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision‑making.
• Asks questions and seeks assistance.
• Seeks responsibility to eliminate the source of problems.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding information pertaining to all students, faculty, and staff.
• Maintains proper appearance and personal conduct for the employee’s particular job.
• Uses effective communication skills, considering body language, filters, listening, paraphrasing, and questions in all interactions.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a team environment.
• Exhibits good judgment and a clear understanding of ethics related to development activities.
• Maintains discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others.
• Upholds a high level of confidentiality regarding University business and confidential prospect information.
• Proficient in fundraising techniques, including proposal development, prospect identification, program planning, fund solicitation, and donor tracking.
• Possesses strong database management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with academic…